Disclaimer: I don't own the oc

Chapter 1

"Grandpa, can I meet Seth?" Ryan asked as he sported a well-practiced pout that reminded Caleb of his daughter when she was young. The similarities between Ryan and his mother seemed to be both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, having him eased the pain of losing his daughter, as Caleb still had a part of her with Ryan. On the other hand… when he noted the similarities he couldn't feel a lump in his throat and he had to make a concerted effort not to let his mind wonder to the memories of his daughter eyes wide open, yet unseeing.

Caleb had spent the past two days, arranging the funerals, attempting to stay on top of work at the office, and trying to integrate Ryan into his life. Ryan brought life into Caleb's haunted mansion and Caleb was glad for the time he got to spend with him. When Ryan wasn't with Caleb he was off charming the new nanny, Sarah, who had taken to Ryan instantly. Unfortunately with everything going on Caleb had yet to find any time to introduce Ryan to his newfound cousin, he had barely had time to breath.

"Ryan, do you remember what I said today is?" Caleb asked.

"You said we had to go to a fuderal cause we had to say goodbye to Trey and Mommy," Ryan remembered. Though Ryan remembered what his grandpa had told him, he was still confused. How could he say goodbye to his mommy and Trey when they had already left.

"That's right," Caleb responded with a sad smile, as a pang of grieve swept through him. "A funeral is where a person's friends and family say goodbye to them when they've gone to heaven."

Ryan looked unhappily down at his feet, "okay," he whispered.

"Hey," Caleb kneeled down before the boy and tilted his small face so their gazes met. "What's wrong kiddo?"

"Why…why couldn't they say goodbye before they left…I…I want to see them…I miss them…" he sobbing and though he continued to try to speak, his words were lost to an incoherent babble.

Caleb found himself tucking the boy into a tight embrace, rubbing the boys back as he cried. "Buddy…hey buddy. I'm sure your mommy and brother wanted to say goodbye, but the world isn't always fair. What you have to remember is that your mommy and brother loved you…You know they loved you don't you?" Caleb asked as he continued to cradle the boy in his arms.

"Then…then why didn't they take me with?" Ryan asked through his sobs.

"Oh buddy," Caleb sighed. "It wasn't their choose and it's not time for you to go to heaven yet. But they'll always be with you. They'll be with you in your memories of them and they'll be there watching over you. You might not see them, but they'll always be here."

For a while they just sat there, Caleb holding Ryan tightly to him, allowing the little boy to cry, to let out the pain he felt over loosing the two people closest to him. It was a lose no child should ever have to endure.

The funeral was small with mostly family and a few of Hayley's friends from before her disappearance. Caleb made sure the occasion did not turn into a Newpsie affair, he didn't think he could stand listening to those fake sympathies, knowing that they would probably only be there for the gossip.

He knew from the flowers and food being delivered to the house by the truckload that all of Newport was aware of Hayley's death. Though none of the flowers or food made it past the front door, Caleb would not accept any false sympathies the Newpsies might have; he have everything to his staff.

He kept Ryan close to him, as the priest spoke words about his daughter and the grandson he would never know. He watched as Kirsten spoke words of the love she felt for her sister and the energy Hailey always seemed to radiate. He tried to speak, but the words got stuck in his throat. A father was not supposed to bury his child. He watched as they began to pour dirt onto the coffins. Watching them be buried…it was almost as painful as seeing them both lying there on that dirt crusted floor.

He was relieved when it was over; relieved he was away from their bodies. He tried to hide his sadness and unease, but he could tell he wasn't fooling his Kiki, she always saw right through him.

"I'm Seth, you're my cousin," Seth told Ryan as they were lead into Cohen house/mansion.

"I'm Ryan, I'm three and one half," Ryan replied as he held out three fingers to show Seth.

"I'm five, that means I'm older and I'm in charge," Seth stated.

"No," Ryan shook his head, "you're not the boss of me. You're just little."

"Yeah…fine. I'm not in charge, but I'm still older. Do you like comics? I love comics, my favorite's superman cause he can fly. What about video games? I love video games; I bet I can beat you. Wanna play ninjas?" He asked with a hopeful look on his face. Seth didn't have a lot of friends, everyone said he was weird and Luke and his friends were always being mean to him.

"Okay," Ryan replied with a smile. Seth talked a lot, but Ryan decided he liked him anyway.

"Wanna be my friend?" Seth asked hopefully.

"You're my cousin silly," Ryan told him, "of course we're friends. We can be best friends." At that Seth practically beamed with happiness.

The adults watched as the little boys walked arm and arm into the house with big goofy smiles on both of their faces.

They all marveled at how resilient the children were. They had the luxury of not truly understanding what had happened.

"How are you holding up, dad?" Kirsten asked her father with a worried expression on her face.

"Fine…" at the disbelieve expression on his daughters face, he gave her a sad smile. "I'm doing better Kiki. Ryan…he helps…I don't know what I'd do without him and he…he really does light up the house."

Kirsten smiled at her dad, "he's good for you, I can see the way you look at him. Though you know if you keep it up you might ruin your hard earned reputation as The Cold One."

"Yeah, Caleb. I've heard you've been giving Julie Cooper a run for her money," Caleb glares at Sandy, "ah, that's the Caleb Nichol we all know at love." Caleb couldn't suppress as small chuckle.

"Honestly, I don't particularly care what people think. They can think whatever they want to about me. It doesn't matter, after… I found Hailey I realized my family is what's most important to me now," both Kirsten and Sandy smiled at that and Sandy couldn't help feeling a newfound respect for this new Caleb Nichol. He didn't know what Ryan had done to his father-in-law, but he was grateful, maybe he would be able to have a conversation with the old man now, and not feel a strong urge to punch him.